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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · tear · net · ball · rock · key · face · drill

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  11. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. face — to point toward
  3. key — in music
  4. face — part of the head
  5. lie — to recline
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. tear — from crying
  8. net — in sport
  9. key — for a lock
  10. tear — to rip
  11. tear — from crying
  12. drill — army training
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. drill — the tool
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a dance
  18. net — after costs
  19. face — to confront
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — a stone
  22. net — for catching
  23. drill — a practice
  24. key — the most important part

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com